Automatic telegraph system



G. R. BENJAMIN.

AuTOMAT|c TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. H, 1916- Patented Mar. 1, 1921*,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN V EN TOR. K 64... I A

A TTORNEY I'H r- A G. R. BENJAMIN.

AUTOMAJ'IC TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-M11916.

1,370,402. Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- IN V EN TOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE R. BENJAMIN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERNUNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC TELEGRAEH SYSTEM.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Application filed December 11, 1916. $erial No. 136,146.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE R. BENJAMIN, acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Jersey City,county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have in vented certain newand useful Improve,

ments in Automatic Telegraph Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

I My invention relates to improvements in automatic telegraph systems,and comprises means whereby receiving apparatus may be operated in anextension loop from one terminal of an automatic telegraph system, andwhereby transmitting apparatus may operate through an extension loopinto one terminal of an automatic telegraph apparatus. My invention alsocomprises various other features as hereinafter pointed out.

Synchronous telegraph systems, wherein transmitting and receivingdistributers or commutators at two ends of a line, operate insynchronism, are well known; certain of which systems, for example, thewell known Baudot system, and its modifications and adaptations, providea plurality of simultaneous channels of communication in each direction.It is sometimes desirable to operate one or more extensions from suchsynchronously operating apparatus. F or example, supposing there be aline between New York and Lhicago with synchronously operated telegraphtransmitting and receiving apparatus in both such cities, it may bedesirable to operate automatically one or more loops extending from themain office in one or both such cities, to a branch office orsubscribers station; and it is often desirable at such branch ofiice orsubscribers station, both to receive messages transmitted through thesynchronous apparatus at the main station, and to transmit from suchbranch station or subscribers station into the synchronous apparatus atthe main station. Oftentimes it'is desirable to transmit and receive,directly and automatically, between a branch station in the one suchcity and a branch station in the other such city, through thesynchronously operated transmitting and receivin apparatus at the twocities mentioned, an through the line wire connecting such cities. Suchoperation is termed extended loop operation. For use at such branch orsubscribers stations of the extension loop, synchronous apparatus of thetype employed at the main stations is not convenient for variousreasons, one of which is that the loop apparatus maybe in operationintermittently only, and to put it into operation it must be broughtinto synchronism with the main office apparatus from which it is toreceive, or into which it is to transmit; and this synchronizing takessome little time. Another reason is, that while little difliculty hasbeen experienced in keeping two apparatus on the line in synchronism,much more difiiculty would be experienced in keeping all of three orfour apparatus in synchronism.

There is a type of automatic telegraph apparatus wherein both thetransmitter and the receiver start operation at the beginning oftransmission of a character, and come to rest at the end of thetransmission of a character, restarting for the transmis sion of thenext character; and so on; the interval of time required for thetransmission of any one character being so short that, without the useof special synchronizing devices, the transmitting and receivingapparatus, if properly regulated, will not get outof step during thetransmission of any one character; and since the transmittin andreceiving apparatus start afresh for the transmission of each character,in practice they remain in step continuously.

I have found that automatic telegraph apparatus of the type which startsafresh for the transmission of each character, and stops at the end oftransmission of each character, is particularly adaptable for extendedloop operation of the typereferred to above. For distinction I will termthe main synchronously operating telegraph apparatus continuouslyoperating synchronous apparatus, and will term the extension loopapparatus, which starts afresh for the transmission of each character,and ceasesoperation at the end oftransmission of each character,restarting 'a paratus. In a companion application No. 129,421, filedNovember 4:, 1916, I have illustrated and described the useof-stepby-step translators, preferably of the Card-' well'type, as therestarting apparatus op:

crating in connection with the main line distributer, for transmissioninto'and re ception from, the extension loop. In-the presentspecification and drawings I illustrate the use of sunflower orcommutator devices as such restarting apparatus.

The object of my invention is to facilitate and make entirely automatic,the operation of transmitting and receiving apparatus operating throughcircuit means extending from or to continuously operating synchronousapparatus, particularly multichannel apparatus of the general Baudottype; and to accomplish this object by relatively simple and reliablemeans.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features inclaims. In said drawings:

Figures 1 and 1 together constituting one figure, show diagrammatically,a main receiving and transmitting distributer of the general Baudottype, located at one end of a line conductor, that is to say, located ata main station, together with an extension circuit conductor andtransmitting and receiving apparatusadapted to receive automaticallyfrom and to transmit automatically into, the-said main dist-ributer, asingle conductor only being employed for transmisslon from or into suchmain distributer. Fig. 1 shoWs the apparatus at the main station, andFig. 1 the apparatus at the branch or subscribers station.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagram illustrating the use of two conductorsfor transmission from and into such main distributer, in lieu of theduplex arrangement, illustrated in Fig. 1 and requiring only one suchconductor.

In the drawings D2 designates a combined transmitting and receivingdistributer of the general Baudot type, and, particularly, of the typeillustrated and described in the application of G. M. Yorke and myselffiled January 5, 1915, Serial No. 654, and comprising alternate plainand segmented commutator rings arranged in pairs, each such pair beingprovided with connecting brushes, BB1, BB2, etc., which brushes, in theapparatus as actually constructed, rotate along the faces of saidcommutator rings. These rings are shown developed in the draw ing.Certain of the rings have functions into which it is not necessary to goin the present description. For the present it suffice's to say thatrings RG1 and S1 are receiving rings; that a main receiving polar relayML repeats, from a line L through a conductor Z into ring RG1, signalsreceived from main line L, and that such signals are transmitted,through brushes BB1,

into the segments of rin S1. The segments of this ring S1 are divi edinto four groups of five segments each, and each segment of one suchgroup is connected electrically to the magnet coil of a correspondingrelay of a group of relays Rl-R5 inclusive, and thence to return. (Ihave not illustrated circuits for the other groups of segments of ringS1, as these other segments pertain to other channels of communication.)These relays are self-locking, that is to say, the magnet of each relay,when energized, attracts the two armatures with which it is provided,one of which armatures, designated by character 71 or 72, etc., closes alocal circuit from a source 1 through the sunflower T1 as hereinafterdescribed. The

magnets of relays R1R2, etc., so energized from the source 1, remainenergized until the energizing circuit is broken at the sunflower ashereinafter described.

T1 and T4 (Fig. 1 and T2 and T3 (Fig. 1 designate generally similarsunflowers or commutators, comprising a series of contact segments overwhich a brush Tla, T2a, etc., is adapted to sweep. It may be understoodthat such brush of each sunflower is driven by some driving devicesupplying approximately constant torque for driving such brush, butnevertheless permitting in stantaneous arrest of the brush. As adiagrammatic illustration of such constanttorque driving-device, I haveindicated a slip belt T15, T25, etc. In general one of the various wellknown spring drives will ordinarily be used in place of the slip belt;but the slip belt affords a more convenient diagrammatic representationof ,such constant-torque driving-devices.

Each sunflower further comprises a magnet Tlm or T2m, etc., foroperating an escapement device T10 or T20, etc.

Each sunflower comprises a segment marked rest, also a segment markedstart, (though the start segments of sunflowers T2 and T4 are withoutoperative function, butare present merely to occupy space,) and othersegments marked t1, t2-t5 respectively, and which may be termeds1gnal=element segments Sunflowers T1 and T2 also have further seg--ments marked t6. Segments t1t5 inclu- T4 ma be termed, respectively, adistant transmlttingor' controllin and a hoine receiving or controlled,sun ower.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that the brushes ofthe distributer D2 rotate in synchronism with the brushes of a similardistributer (not shown) at the .distant end of line L;-and at the timewhen The signals of the Baudot system consists each of five impulses,some of which impulses are positive and others negative, the variouspermutations required to make up the various sig nals of the alphabetbeing obtained by varying the polarity of the pulses. It may beunderstood that the relays R1R5 inclusive are to respond to pulses ofone polarity only (for example, positive pulses) transmitted. throughline L. That is to say, if the first, third and fifth impulses of acharacter so transmitted are positive, and the second and fourthnegative, only relays R1, R3 and R5 will be operated, and therefore onlycontacts m, we and re will be closed; and by the closing of suchcontacts, circuit paths will have been completed, as hereinafterdescribed, to contacts t1, t3 and t5 of sunflower T1.

In other words, at each revolution of brushes BRla series of contacts isset up in relays RlR5, which contacts are in series circuit withcorresponding contacts of series tlt5 of the sunflower T1.

An instant after such contacts are so set up in the relays R1-R5, brushBB2 connects rin RG2 with a segment or series of connected segments) ofring 2, thereby completing a circuit from a source 5, through rings RG2and S2 and a' conductor 6 to magnet Tlm, and thenceto return, therebymoving the lower escapement pallet 7 out of the path of the escapementtooth 8, so ermitting a small movement of brush la, until escapement pin9 is arrested by escapement pallet 10. Such movement of the brush Tlacarries it over a rest segment of sun ower T1, and does not car it tothe start segment. As soon as the distributer brush BB2 has passedbeyond the segment or segments of ring S2 so connected to magnet Tlm,that magnet is deenergized, disengaging escapement allet 10 fromescapement pin 9 and permitting the brush Tla to continue its sweep overthe segments of the sunflower until arrested, at the conclusion of onerotation, by engagement of pallet 7 with tooth 8.

lVhen, as previously explained, circuit is completed momentarily fromsource 5, through ring RG2, brush BB2 and a segment or segments of ringS2, and through conductor 6 and magnet Tlm to return, cur rent is alsotransmitted through branch circuit 19 to the rest segment of sunflowerT1 and brush Tla and conductor 20 through the magnet of relay Q1 toreturn, the armature of the relay being thereby attracted and therebythe current. is reversed in the circuit, through the armature of relayQ1 and conductor L and artificial line I) b (Fi 1 to return,rtherebyoperating relay P 1 at the out station, and in turn denergizing,

the magnet of relay Q2 at the out station (said relay being energizednormally by current from source 21 through the upper rtion only ofthewith the passage of brush arm contact of relay PR1). The armatures ofrelay Q2 then drop back; such movement of armature 22 resulting inenergizing magnet T2m of sunflower T2 at the out oflice by current fromsource 24 through one back contact and armature 22 of relay Q2 and brushT26; of sunflower T2 rest segment of T2 and magnet T2m to return. MagnetT2m being so energized, escapement T20 is operated so as to cause pallet7 to release tooth 8, and permit the sunflower arm T20 to move untilarrested by engagement of pin 9 with pallet 10. This movement of armT2a,' does not carry its brush to the start segment. WVhen brush BB2 ofdis tributer D2 has passed off from the segment or segments of ring S2connected to conductors 6, the magnet of relay Q1 is again deenergized,relay PR1 at the out station is operated to again energize the magnet ofrelay Q2, and magnet T2nn is again denergized, the escapement thenpermitting brush arm T2a to move still farther, and close to, but notinto, the start segment; and the brush is arrested by engagement ofpallet 7 with tooth 8a. When magnet Tlm of sunflower T1 is denergized bythe passage of distributer brush BB2 beyond the segment'or segments ofring S2 connected to conductor 6, and brush Tla is released by pallet 7and commences to move over the start segment of sunflower T1, the magnetof relay Q1 is energized, by current from source 11 through said startsegment, brush Tla and conductor 20, and thereby relay PR1 at the outstation is operated to again denergize the magnet of relay Q2; wherebymagnet T2m of sunflower T2 is again energized from source 24, and brusharm T2a is released by escapement pallet 7, and rotates around thesunflower disk, passing over the various segments of that sunflower insvnchronism 1a of sun flower T1 over the segments of sunflower T1; forit may be assumed that the constant torque drivin devices of thebrushes, of the sunflowers 1 and T2, move those brushes withsubstantiallythe same speed; and since these brushes starttogether,"they will naturally travel in substantial synchronism, andwill moveover contact segments t1, 82, etc., of their respective sunflowers, atsubstantially. the same moments. However, to afl'ord ample workingmargin with respect to sunflower T2, I have shown the contact'segmentst1, t2, etc., of that sunlays R1--R5 is attracted, .a locking-circuit iscompleted from a source 1 through conductor 2, the magnet coil of suchrelay and the said armatures T1, 12, etc., to contact springs m and 1'3of the sunflower and thence to return; these contacts m; and ry beingnormally closed but being arranged to be separated, near the end of eachcycle of the sunflower, by means of a projection 1'2 on the disk 4 whichcarries the escapement teeth 7 and 9 and rotates with the brush Tla. Theclosing of the selected contacts of series m, 1 5, etc., closes circuitbranches from source 1 to the corresponding sunflower segments t1, t2,etc., and as the brush Tla sweeps over such sunflower segments a circuitis completed therefrom through the brush and conductor 20 to the coil ofrelay Q1. The magnet of this relay being energized and deenergized, asbrush Tla passes over the segments connected with the selected relaysR1, etc., pulses corresponding to the character to be transmitted aretransmitted through line L and through the magnet of polar relays PR andPR1 in that line to relay Q2 (see Fig. 1*) at the distant or subscribersstation; and said relay Q2 will repeat such impulses into brush T2a, andso into the particular segment of series tlt5, over which that brush ispassing at the instant of transmission of each such impulse. Relays PRand PR1 will be recognized as relays arranged for the duplex operationof line L; artificial lines La and U?) being provided. As will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, a signal transmitted by relay Q1into theline L does not operate relay PR but does operate relay PR1.Line L extends to return throu h the armature and back contact of arelay 4 to be referred to hereinafter.

Sunflower T2 controls a telegraph printing device, represented in thedrawings by magnets 29-33, respectively, and by a magnet 35 which may beunderstood to be the printer magnet of the printer. Telegraph printersarranged to have a character selected for printing by selectiveenergization of a series of five magnets such as 29-33, and by thesubsequent energization of a magnet 35, are well known, and therefore itis not necessaryfor me to describe or illustrate such a printer herein.

The contacts t1t5 of sunflower T2 control printer-selecting-relays R6R10respectively, which relays in turn control selecting magnets 2933respectively; while the sixth contact t6 of sunflower T2 controls arelay 34 controlling the printing magnet 350i the automatic printer ofwhich magnets 29-33 control selecting mechanism. It will be apparentthat upon the transmission of each marking pulse transmitted throughline L, the magnet of relay Q2 will be deenergized and therefore acircuit will be completed from source 24 through the brush T2a and theparticular segment t1, t2, etc., of sunflower T2, with which that brushmay be in contact at the'moment, to the magnet of the correspondingrelay of series RG-RIO inclusive. These relays are selflocking relays inthe same sense as are resunflower, to the magnet of relay 34; whichmagnet, being energized, closes a circuit through printer magnet 35,effecting the operation of the printer, and at the same time opening acontact 51 whereby the locking circuit of relays R6R10 is broken, saidrelays being thereby cleared. At the conclusion of each. rotation, thebrushes Tla, T2a and T3a are arrested by engagement of their severalpallets 7 with the several escapement teeth 8.

A designates a perforated-tape-controlled automatic transmitter locatedat the branch or subscribers station. The illustration of suchtransmitter contained in Fig. 1 is intended to be diagrammatic only andnot to illustrate actual details of construction. For fullerillustration and description of the particular transmitterdiagrammatically illustrated, see the said Yorke-Benjamin applicationSr. No. 654, or my application Sr. No. 23,791, filed April 26, 1915. Asmany such perforated-tape-controlled transmitters which are adaptablefor use in the present system, are known, it suflices to say at presentthat this transmitter comprises an operating magnet M and a series offeelers F adapted to engage corres ending holes in theperforated-tape-strip together with contacts f1-f5, one or more of whichwill be closed, selectively, for the sending of each telegraphcharacter,'upon the deenergization of magnet M; the particular contactor contacts f1-f5 which are so closed being determined by the perforatedtape. Contacts f1-f5 so closed complete circuit paths from a source 43.to contacts t1t5 respectively, of sunflower T3. At the' time when relayQ1 was first operated, by closure of circuit from source 5 through ringsRG2 and S2, conductors 6 and 19, rest segment of sunflower Tl, brush armTla, and conductor 20, with consequent operation of relays PR1 and Q2, acircuit was completed from source 36 through armature 23 of relay Q2 andthe corresponding back contact to magnet M of transmitter A, and thencethrough contacts we and 1'3 of sunflower T3 to return; whereby themagnet M was energizedand the perforated tape G was fed forward onespace, the feelers F previously in engagement with that tape beingwithdrawn; and at the same time magnet T3m of sunflower T3 wasdeenergized, permit-ting brush T3a to move until arrested by engagementof escapement pallet 10 with in 9. Upon the next operation of relays 1,PR1 and Q2, consequent upon the passage of brush BB2 past the segment orsegments of ring S2 connected to conductor 6, with consequentenergization of the magnet of relay Q2, transmitter magnet M isdeenergized, and such of the feelers F of that transmitter as areopposite perforations in the tape G, rise through those perforations,thereby setting up a new contact combination in the series of contactsf1f5 of the transmitter. At the same time magnet T3m of the sunflower isener ized, the escapement being operated to permit brush T3a to moveuntil arrested by engagement of escapement pallet 7' with tooth 8a. Uponthe further operation of relays Q1, PR1 and Q2, due to the passage ofbrush Tla into the start segment of sunflower T1, and the consequentdropping back of the armatures 22 and 23 of relay Q2, magnet T3m ofsunflower T3 is again deenergized, escapement pallet 7 being therebydisengaged from tooth 8a, so that'brush T3a is permitted to ass over thestart segment, of sunflower 3, and then over contact segments t1t5 insuccession; but magnet M of transmitter A is not again energized,because by this time cam projection we of sunflower T3 has passed beyondthe coacting contact spring Ty, and springs m and ry are no longer incontact, the circuit through magnet M being thereby broken, andremaining broken until sunflower arm T3a has returned to its normal orrest position, shown in Fig. l

As the brush arm T3a passes over the several segments t1-t5 of sunflowerT3, it is apparent that relay Q4 will be operated through conductor 44in accordance with the characters set up in the contacts f1f5 oftransmitter A, and that this relay therefore will transmit the samecharacter through line L to relay PR at the main station, which relaywill repeat such character, through conductor 45 and relay Q5, intosunflower T4, located at the main ofiice.

The .brush T4a of sunflower T4 is normally held arrested by engagementof pallet 10 of its escapement anchor with pin 9; the escapement anchorbeing in a position opposite that of the escapement anchors ofsunflowers T1 and T2, and tooth 8 of sun- 'rest the rotation of thebrush.

flower T4 being so disposed that engagement of the pallet 7 with thistooth 8 does not ar- Consequently, when brush T3a of sunflower T3 passesfrom its rest to its start segment, and a circuit is completed fromsource 42 through the coil of relay Q4, conductor 44, brush T3a and thesaid start segment, to return, a starting pulse is transmitted by saidrelay Q4 through relay PR1, to relay PR; which relay, being operatedthereby, breaks the energizing circuit of the magnet of relay Q5, andthe consequent retraction of the armatures of that relay, energizesmagnet T4m of sunflower T4, starting the brush of that sunflower inrotation simultaneously with the starting of brush T3a of sunflower T3.As brush T3a of sunflower T3 passes over the several segments of thatsunflower which are connected to corresponding contacts of thetransmitter A, current pulses will be transmitted through relays Q4, PRand Q5, corresponding to the character set up in the contacts of thetransmitter A, and thereby the brush T400 of sunflower T4 will complete,through the segments of that sunflower, circuits energizing the magnetsof such relays of series R11R15 as is required for the setting up, inarmatures rat-4e, of those relays, contact combinations corresponding tothe character transmitted from transmitter A. These armatures ra--re ofrelay bank R11-R15, are connected to corresponding segments oftransmitting ring S3 of distributer D2; and the two contact stops ofeach armature of series mre, are connected to opposite sources ofcurrent supply, as indicated; and it will be apparent that when, aftersuch contact combination has been set up in relays R11R15, the brush BB3next passes over the segments of ring S3, so connected to relays R11R15,the characters set up in such relays will be transmitted through line L.

' Relays Ell-R15 are self locking in the same sense as relays R1--R5,and when, near the conclusion of one cycle of operations of thatsunflower itsprojection r2 separates the contact springs m and ry of thelocking circuit of those relays, the relays are cleared; and the same istrue with respect to sunflower T1 and relays R1R5. Similarly, whensunflower T3 nears the end of its cycle of operations the projection T2of that sunflower brings together its contact springs rm and *ry, soclosing at that point the energizing circuit of the magnet M oftransmitter A; though that circuit is not completed at relay Q2 untilbrush Tla begins another cycle of operations.

It is necessary to complete the cycle of the extended loop instrumentsbefore thetcycle of the main line distributer D2 is completed.

In practice, the extended loop apparatus completes its cycle ofoperations in the time during which three fourths of the cycle ofdistributer D2 is completed.

By making the segments t1-t2, etc., of sunflowers T1 and T3 (these arethe transmitting sunflowers) proportionately longer than are thecorresponding segments 61, t2, etc., of the receiving sunflowers T2 andT4, possibility of overlapping of a signal from one receiving sunflowersegment to the next, through variable lag in the circuit, or otherreason, is obviated, also there is current on the line well before thereceiving brushes T2a and T441, contact with a segment through which asignal is to be sent, whereby disturbance from external sources is to agreat degree obviated.

Obviously, instead of duplexing the extension-conductor L, separateoutgoing and return extension conductors may be em-- ployed. This isillustrated in Fig. 2, wherev in, for simplicity, only the instrumentsdirectly connected with the incoming and outgoing extension lines L and-L" are illustrated; similar reference characters to those employed inFigs. 1 and 1 being employed in Fig. 2, so "that the connection betweenFig. 2 and Figs. 1 and 1 is apparent. It will be seen that in suchdouble conductor arrangement the return extensionline L asses directlyfrom the brush of sunflower 3 to the magnet coil of relay Q5 at the homestation.

Relays Rl-R5 and Ell-R15 are to be regarded, for the purpose of theclaims, as parts of the distributers D2.

In referring hereinabove to the Baudot system, and to the Baudotfive-unit code, I do not intend to limit my invention to use with aBaudot system, or Baudot a aratus, or to use with a Baudot code. yinvention is suitable for use in connection with any system or apparatusemploying a code having the same number of current impulses for eachcharacter; for example, with systems the characters of which, or some ofthem, are made up of positive, negative and no-current units. i

In my said companion application Serial No. 129,421 I have claimedbroadly the invention common to the two applications, and therefore Iclaim herein only such features as are not disclosed in my saidcompanion application.

What I claim is:---

1.v In an automatic telegraph system, the combination of a controllingand a controlled contact closing device comprising corresponding mainsignal-transmitting contact members equal in' number together withcorresponding movable members ada ted for synchronous coaction,respective y, with respect to their corresponding mam signaltransmitting members, and magnetcontrolled escapement means controllingthe start of the travel of such movable mem-,

bers, the escapement of the controlling contact device com rising meanswhereby two operations of that escapement release the correspondingmovable member for continued movement, the escapement of the controlledcontact device comprising means whereby three operations of thatescapement mechanism release the corresponding movable member forcontinued movement, means for causing a simultaneous first operation ofsuch escapements followed by a second operation of such escapements, and

travel of such brushes, the escapement of 1 the controlling sunflowencomprising means whereby two operations of that escapement release thecorresponding brush for continued movement, the escapement of thecontrolled sunflower comprising means whereby three operations of thatescapement mechanism release the corresponding brush for continuedmovement, means for causing a simultaneous first operation of suchescapements followed by a second operation of such escapements, andmeans for causing a third operation of the escapement of the controlledsunflower immediately following the'start of the brush of thecontrolling sunflower on its continued movement.

3. In an automatic telegraph system, the

combination of transmitting and receiving sunflowers adapted forsynchronous operation and comprising corresponding mamsignal-transmitting segments, brushes adapt- I ed for synchronous travelover said segments and' magnet-controlled escapement mean's controllingthestart of the travel. of such brushes, circuit means connecting thebrush of the transmitting sunflower with the brush of the receivingsunflower, means for energizing initially and momentarily the escapementmagnetof the transmitting sunflower and then for deenergizing suchmagnet, the escapement of the transmitting sunflower comprising meanswhereby after deenergization' of such magnet following energization, thebrush of that sunflower is released for continued operation through onecycle, means for transmitting a current pulse from the transmittingsunflower to the brush of the receiving sunflower upon the firstenergization of the controllin magnet of such transmitting sunflower, anagain after such brush has started upon its full rotation and beforecontact of such brush with any of the main signal transmitting segments,the escapement means of said receivingsunflower comprising means wherebya second energization of its controlling magnet, following firstenergization and subsequent deenergization of that magnet, is requiredto release the brush of such receiving sunflower, said receivingsunflower further comprising means for transmitting to its escapementmagnet current pulses received from the transmitting sunflower prior tothe starting of the brush of the receiving sunflower on its continuedmovement.

4. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a main l1nedistributer, of a controlling and a controlled contact closing devicecomprising corresponding main signal-transmitting contact members equalin number together with corresponding movable members adapted forsynchronous coaction, respectively, with respect to their correspondmmain signal transmitting members, an magnet-controlled escapement meanscontrolling the start of the travel of such movable members, theescapement of the controlling contact device comprising means wherebytwo operations of that escapement release the corresponding movablemember for continued movement, the escapement of the controlled contactdevice comprising means whereby three operations of that escapementmechanism release the corresponding movable member for continuedmovement, said distributer comprising a series of contacts connectedrespectively to the main signal-transmitting contact members of the saidcontrolling contact closing device and adapted to set up in such seriesof contacts various character contactcombinations, circuit connectionsbetween said distributer and escapement magnet of the controllingcontact closing device,- and between the controlling and controlledcontact closing device, said distributer comprising means for causing,through such circuit connections, a simultaneous first operation of suchescapements followed by a second operation of such escapements, andmeans for causing a third operation of the escapement of the controlledcontact device immediately following the start of the movable member ofthe controlling contact device on its continued movement.

5. In an automatic telegraph system, the .combination of a controllingand a controlled sunflower comprising corresponding mainsignal-transmitting segments, brushes adapted for synchronous travelover said segments, and magnet-controlled escapement means controllingthe start of the travel of such brushes, the escapement of thecontrolling sunflower being atWo-toothed escapement, and that of thecontrolled sunflower being a three-toothed escapement, a distributer,circuit connections between said distributer and the controllingsunflower, and between the two sunflowers, whereby said distributercauses a simultaneous first operation of such escapements followed by asecond operation of such escapements, said controlling sunflowercomprising means for causing a third operation of the escapement of thecontrolled sunflower immediately following the start of the brush of thecontrolling sunflower on its continued movement.

6. In an automatic telegraph'system, the combination with a distributerhaving signal-receivingl and signal-transmitting means, each comprisinga series of contacts in which contact combinations may be set upcorresponding to telegraphic characters, of extended-loop transmittingand receiving apparatus comprising a controlling sunflower havingsegments each connected to a correspondlng contact of the receivingseries of the distributer and a controlled sunflower at a distant pointhaving corresponding con tact segments, said extended loop apparatusfurther comprising a controlling sunflower at a distant point and atransmitter therefor adapted to setup character combinations, saidtransmitter and said distant controlling sunflower having each a seriesof corresponding characterelement contacts, each such contact of thetransmitter connected to a contact of the corresponding sunflower, saidextension loop apparatus further comprising a controlled sunflowercorresponding to the distant controlling sunflower and having characterelement contact segments connected respectively to correspondingcontacts of the signal transmitting contact series of the distributer,circuit means connecting each controlling sunflower with thecorresponding controlled sunflower, each sunflower comprising a brushadapted for travel over the segments of that sunflower synchronouslywith the travel of the brush of the corresponding controlling orcontrolled sunflower, each sunflower further comprisingmagnet-controlled escapement means controlling the start of the travelof the corresponding brush, said distributer comprising means, operatingthrough the circuit connections from the distributer to one controllingsunflower and thence to the circuit connections between the severalsunflowers, for starting each controlling sunflower and itscorresponding controlled sunflower in synchronism, and for operating thetransmitter associated with the distant controlling sunflower.

In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a distributerhaving signal-receiving and signal-transmitting means, each comprising aseries of contacts in which contact combinations may be set upcorresponding, to telegraph characters, of extended-loop transmittingand receiving ap: paratus comprising a controlling sunflower havingcharacter element segments each connected to a corresponding contact ofthe receiving series of the distributer and having also rest and startsegments, and a controlled sunflower at a distant point having segmentscorrespondingto the character element segments of said controllingsunflower, and having also a rest segment, said extended-loop apparatusfurther comprising a controlling sunflower at a distant point, and atransmitter therefor. adapted to set up charactercombinations, saidtransmitter and said distant controlling sunflower having each a seriesof corresponding character element contacts, each such contact of thetransmitter connected to a contact of the corresponding sunflower, saiddistant controlling sunflower having also a rest segment, saidextended-loop apparatus further comprising a controlled sunflowercorresponding to the distant controlling sunflower, and having characterelement contact segments connected respectively to correspondingcontacts of the signal transmitting contact series of the distributer,cir cuit means connecting each controlling sunflower with' thecorresponding controlled sunflower, each sunflower comprising a brushadapted for travel over the segments of that sunflower synchronouslywith the travel of the brush of the corresponding controlling orcontrolled sunflower, each sunflower further, comprising maet-controlled escapement means control ing the start of the travel ofthe corresponding brush, the escapement of the first mentionedcontrolling sunflower being a two-toothed escapement, the escapements ofthe distant sunflowers being three-toothed escapements, said distributer comprising means for closing a circuit through the escapementmagnet of the first mentioned controlling sunflower, and also forsimultaneously closing circuit through such first mentioned controllingsunflower to the escapement magnets of the corresponding controlledsunflower and the distant controlling sunflower, the start segment ofthe first mentioned controlling sunflower having a source or currentsupply whereby when the brush of that sunflower reaches such startsegment the magnets of the corresponding controlled sun-v flower, andthe distant controlling sunflower, are operated; such distant controlledsunflower comprising means whereby when its brush is started forcontinued operation the brush of the corresponding controlled sunfloweris also starte 8. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination witha continuously operating synchronous apparatus comprising a series ofcontacts and means for setting up contact combinations thereinconforming to the make up of telegraph characters, of an .extensioncircuit and transmitting means therefor comprising a sunflower havingsegments corresponding each to one of said series of contacts andconnected thereto, and having also a brush adapted to travel over saidsegments, driving means for said brush, escapement means normallyholding said brush stationary, said sunflower having also a rest segmentupon which such brush normally rests, said escapement means comprisingan operating magnet-and said continuo'usly-operating synchronousapparatus tact-combination, to cause said brush to move along the restsegment, to stop thereon, and finally to start for continued travel overthe remaining segments.

9. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a continuouslyoperating synchronous apparatus comprising a series of contacts andmeans for setting up con- .tact combinations therein conforming to themake up of telegraph characters, of an extension circuit, andtransmitting and receiving means therefor each comprising a sunflower,the transmitting sunflower having signal element segments correspondingeach to one of said series of contacts and con nected thereto, andhaving also a start segment, the receiving sunflower havingcorresponding ignal-element segments, and a rest segment, each sunflowerhaving a brush adapted to travel over saidsegments, driving means forsaid brush, 'escapement mean normally holding said brushstationary, andan operating magnet for such.es-

capement means, the escapement means of each sunflower normally holdinthe corresponding brush upon the frest segment, saidcontinuously-operating synchronous apparatus comprising means foroperating the magnet of the transmitting sunflower, after the setting upof a character contact-combination, to cause thecorresponding brush tomove over the rest segment, to stop thereon, and finally to start forcontinued travel over the remaining segments, and means for transmittingthrough said extension circuit to the magnet of the receiving sunflowersignals to cause corresponding and simultaneous movements of the brushof the receiving sunflower.

10. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a continuous]operating synchronous apparatus comprising a series of contacts andmeans for setting up contact combinations therein conformlng to the makeup of telegraph characters, of extension circuit means, and means fortransmitting from said continuously operating synchronous apparatus to adistant station in' such extension circuit means,and for transmittingfrom such distant station through such extension circuit means into saidcontinuously operating synchronous apparatus, comprising hometransmitting and receiving sunflowers and distant transmitting andreceiving sunflowers, the home transmitting sunflower having signalelement se ents corresponding each to one of said series of contacts andconnected thereto, the other sunflowers having corresponding segments,each sunflower having also a rest segment, each 1 sunflower having abrush adapted to. travel over said segments, driving means for saidbrush, escapement means normally holding such brush stationary, and anoperating magnet for such es capement' means, the escapement means ofeach sunflower normally holding the corresponding brush upon the restsegment,

said continuously-operating synchronous apparatus comprising means foroperating the magnet of the home transmitting sunflower, after thesetting up of a character contact combination, to cause the brush ofsuch sunflower-to move over the rest segment, to stop thereon, andfinally to start for continued travel over the remaining segments,

means for transmitting through such extension circuit means to the ma etof the distant receiving and transmitting sunflowers, a signal to causecorresponding and s1- multaneous movements of the brushes of suchsunflowers, a distant transmitter comprising a series of contactsandmeans for setting up character combinations therein, such transmittercontacts connected to corresponding signal element segments of thedistant transmitting sunflower, the distant transmitting sunflowercomprising means for sending a current pulse through such extensioncircuit means to'the magnet of the home receiving sunflower to start thebrush of'that sunflower in operation sub stantially simultaneously withthe starting for continued operation of the brush of said distanttransmitting:sunflower; said continuously operated synchronous apparatuscomprising means, controlled by -t e home receiving sunflower, forsetting up contact combinations corresponding to characters set up inthe distant transmitter and for transmitting from such contactcombinations into such continuously operating synchronous apparatus. i

11. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a rotarydistributer comprising a segmented commutator and a series ofrelayshavin magnet coils connected to segments of sai commutator, andarranged to be actuated by said commutator to set up contactcombinations corresponding to characters received by saidcommutator, ofan extension circuit, and transmitting and receiving means thereforcomprising sunflowers having brushes and driving means therefor adaptedto rotate such brushes in substantial unison, said sunflowers comprisingescapement means normally holding the corresponding brushes stationaryand further comprising magnets controlling such. escape- .mentmeans,said sunflowers each comprising a rest segment, the transmittingsunflower comprising further signal-element segments connected tocorresponding contacts of said relays, the receiving sunflower havingcorresponding signal-element segments, a recorder,-a series of selectingrelays for-said recorder connected to such last mentioned segments ofthe receiving sunflower, and

means actuated by said distributer after the setting up of a charactercombination in the first mentioned series of relays, to cause thebrushes of the sunflowers to move over their rest segments, to stopthereon, and finally to start for continued travel over the remamlngsegments.

12. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a rotarydistributer comprising a segmented commutator, of an extension circuitand means for transmitting therethrough' into said distributercomprising a transmitter having contacts ada ed to be set up incombinations correspo ing to characters to be transmitted, andtransmitting and receiving sunflowers having brushes tact combinationsmay be set u corresponding to the signals transmitte and meansforstarting the brushes of said sunflowers in substantial unison.

13. In an automatic teiegraph system, the combination, with a rotarydistributer comprising a segmented commutator and a series of relayshavin magnet coils connected to segments of sai commutator, and arrangedto be actuated by said commutatorto set up contact combinationscorresponding to-char acters received by said commutator, of anextension circuit, and transmitting and receiv relays, the receivin ingmeans therefor comprising sunflowers having brushes and driving meanstherefor adapted to rotate such brushes in substantial unison, saidsunflowers comprising escapement means normally holding thecorresponding brushes stationary and further comprising magnetscontrolling such escapement means, said sunflowers each comprising arest segment, the transmitting sunflower comprising signal-elementsegments connected to corresponding contacts of said sunflower havingcorresponding signal-e ement segments, arecorder, a series of selectingrelays for said recorder connected to such last mentioned segments ofthe receiving sunflower, and means actuated by said distributer afterthe setting up of a character combination in the first mentioned seriesof relays, to cause the brushes of the sunflowers to move over theirrest segments, to stop thereon, and finally to start for continuedtravel over the remaining segments, the transmitting sunflowercomprising means for clearing the relays of said distributer.

14. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a rotarydistributer comprising a segmented commutator and a series of relayshavin magnet coils connected to segments of sai commutator, and arrangedto be actuated by said commutator to set up contact combinationscorresponding to characters received by' said commutator, of anextension circuit, and transmitting and receiving means thereforcomprising sunflowers having brushes and driving means therefor adaptedto rotate such brushes in substantial. unison, said sunflowers comrising escapement means normally hol ing the corresponding brushesstationary and further comprising magnets controlling such escapementmeans,- said sunflowers each comprising a rest segment, the'transmittingsunflower comprising signal-element segments connected to correspondincontacts of said relays, the receiving sun ower having correspondingsignalelement segments, a recorder, a series of selecting relays forsaid recorder connected to such last mentioned segments of the receivingsunflower, and means actuated b distributer after the setting up of a caracter combination in the first mentioned series of relays, to causethe brushes of the sunflower to move over their rest segments, .to stopthereon, and finally to start for continued travel over the remainingsegments, the transmitting sunflower comprising means for clearing therelays of said distributer, and means for clearing the selecting relaysfor the recorder, said receiving sunflower having a further segment towhich such clearing means is connected, and said transmitting sunflowerhaving a further segment adapted to transmit an actuating said pulsethrough such extension circuit to such clearing segment of the receivingdistributer.

15. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a rotarydistributer comprising a segmented commutator, of an extension circuitand means for transmitting therethrough into said distributer comprisinga transmitter having contacts adapted to be set up in combinationscorresponding to characters to be transmitted, and having transmittingand receiving sunflowers having brushes and driving means thereforadapted to rotate such brushes in substantial unison, said sunflowerscomprising escapement means normally llOldiIlg the corresponding brushesstationary, and further comprising magnets controlling such escapementmeans, the transmitting sunflower comprising segments connected tocorresponding contacts of said transmitter, the receiving sunflowerhaving corresponding segments, a bank of self-locking relays havingmagnet coils connected o such segments of the receiving sunflower, suchrelays having contacts, connected to segments of that distributer, inwhich contact combinations may be set up corresponding to the signalstransmitted, said receiving sunflower having means for clearing suchrelays after transmission therefrom, and means for starting the brushesof such sunflowers in substantial unison.

16. In an automatic telegraphsystem, the

combination with a rotary distributer comprising a segmented commutator,of an extension circuit and means for transmitting therethrough intosaid distributer comprising a transmitter having contacts adapted to beset up in combinations corres onding to characters to be transmitted,ans transmitting and receiving sunflowers having brushes and drivingmeans therefor adapted to rotate such brushes in substantial unison,said sunflowers comprising escapement means normally holding thecorresponding brushes stationary, and further comprising magnetscontrolling such escapement means, the transmitting sunflower comprisingsegments connected to corresponding contacts of said transmitter, thereceiv ing sunflower having corresponding se ments, a bank of relayshaving magnet coils connected to such segments of the receivingsunflower, such relays having contacts, connected to segments of saiddistributer, in

which contact combinations may be set u corresponding to the signalstransmitte and means for starting the brushes of said sunflowers insubstantial unison, said transmitting sunflower having further a rest seent and a start segment, its brush bemg normally on the rest segment,said receiving sunflower having further a rest segment, upon which itsbrush normally rests, means for moving the brush of the transmittingsunflower from its rest seg- In testimony whereof I have signed thisment to its start segment, and thence over specification 1n the presenceof two sub- 1ts remaining segments, and means for transscrlbmgwitnesses.

mitting a start signal to the magnet of GEORGE R. BENJAMIN. thereceiving sunflower when the brush of Vitnesses: the transmittingsunflower ison its start H. M. MARBLE,

segment. 1 PAUL H. FRANKIE.

